Definition

1. Noun:
   • A toxic cardiac glycoside: Strophanthin is a bitter and highly toxic glycoside obtained from plants of the genus Strophanthus. In controlled, moderate doses, it acts as a cardiac stimulant, but in larger doses, it is a powerful poison. Historically, it has been used in Africa as an arrow poison.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The physician administered a small dose of strophanthin to stimulate the patient's heart function.
  • In traditional hunting practices, strophanthin was applied to arrowheads to poison game.

Advanced Usage

• Medical Context: Strophanthin is specifically referenced in historical or specialized medical texts concerning cardiac treatment and toxicology.
  • The study compared the effects of strophanthin and digitalis on myocardial contractility.

Variants and Related Words

• Strophanthus (n): The genus of tropical plants from which strophanthin is derived.
  • The seeds of Strophanthus plants are a primary source of strophanthin.

Synonyms

• Ouabain (n): Another cardiac glycoside with similar properties, sometimes used interchangeably in specific contexts, though they are distinct compounds.
• Cardiac glycoside (n): The general class of compounds to which strophanthin belongs.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "strophanthin" refers strictly to the specific glycoside compound. It is not used in general language but is confined to scientific, medical, and historical contexts concerning pharmacology, toxicology, or ethnobotany.

Noun

1. a bitter and very toxic glycoside derived from plants of the genus Strophanthus; in moderate doses it is a cardiac stimulant but in larger doses it is a powerful poison; used in Africa as an arrow poison